DRINKS seller Mariah Mohd Darus considered disposing of her two large water containers after using them during the major water interruption in December 2023.
Luckily, she didn’t because from this Friday, most of Penang will face another water cut.
“The containers were taking up a lot of space, but fortunately I kept them.
“They’ll come in handy again as each container can hold enough water to last a day,” she said when met at her stall in Ampang Jajar, at Butterworth, Penang.
Each container, with a capacity of over 100 litres, will help Mariah continue her cooking and washing activities at the stall without major disruption to her business.
She recalled that during the previous water cut, the containers, which were filled in advance, helped her stay operational.
“During the last interruption, I stored water in these bins for cooking and washing.
Chow (second from right) checking the progress of work on the pipeline diverted across the Ampang Jajar bridge on the river surface of Sungai Perai in Butteworth. — Courtesy of Buletin Mutiara
“When they ran low, I refilled them using water supplied through tankers, since the cut lasted several days,” she said.
Businessman N. Vijay, was among residents spotted shopping for a large water container to prepare for the scheduled water supply interruption.
“I am looking for something large enough to sustain the daily water needs of five people in my household.
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“During the previous water cut, I did not store enough and water in my tank ran out. It was a struggle,” said Vijay from Taman Riang, Butterworth.
I have learned from that experience. Now, I plan to store enough water to last at least three days, just in case the situation drags on.
“Not having water previously disrupted our daily routine - from cooking to bathing. I want to avoid going through the same stress again,” he said.
Back-up plans
In Kampung Benggali, Butterworth, a plasticware seller identified only as Yong, has seen a steady stream of customers in recent days.
He said most of them were looking for storage containers ahead of the scheduled water supply interruption.
“During the last water cut, people were buying buckets in a panic.
“Some came in at the last minute and grabbed whatever sizes were left.
“I sold over 100 buckets of various sizes within just a few days,” he recalled.
Yong believes that many of those customers are now better prepared and likely reusing the containers they had bought previously.
“This time around, although the rush is not as intense, I still have customers coming in every day. People seem more prepared,” he said, adding that there was no panic-buying this time around.
Yong said bucket prices were based on capacity, with a 45-litre container priced at RM21, and larger 215-litre drums going for as much as RM250.
“People usually go for the mid-sized ones, big enough to store water for a family but small enough to carry or move around,” he said, adding that sales are expected to pick up as the date approaches.
While many residents are
busy filling up buckets and containers, others have opted to go on holiday.
One of them is bank manager Loke Wei Lynn, who plans to travel to Hatyai, Thailand, with her husband and their five-year-old daughter.
“The timing actually works out well since it falls on a weekend, so we thought, why not turn it into a short family getaway?”
The family said they welcome the chance to unwind and spend time together.
“It’s a good opportunity as Hatyai is nearby and easy to get to,” she added.
Affected accounts
Pathmanathan says this will be the only scheduled water disruption in Penang this year.A total of 341,708 consumer accounts across all five districts in Penang will be affected by the scheduled water supply interruption from 10pm on April 25 to 10am on April 28.
Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) will undertake 23 major waterwork projects at nine locations across the state during this period.
The planned works include the final connection of the RM8.7mil Sungai Perai River-Crossing Pipeline (SP–RCP) in Mak Mandin, repair of a leaking 700mm pipeline and six pump house upgrading works at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) as well as the replacement of a faulty 1.2m valve at a pipeline in Jalan Pengkalan Tambang.
The waterworks projects, aimed for completion within a span of 24 to 60 hours, will involve 800 PBAPP staff and 200 additional personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department, volunteers and local service centres.
During this period, PBAPP will mobilise 80 mobile water tankers and 182 static water tanks at key locations.
There will be 39 tankers and 95 tanks on the mainland, and 41 tankers and 87 tanks on the island.
Priority will be given to 12 hospitals and 20 dialysis centres across the state.
Infrastructure upgrades
PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said the SP-RCP pipeline, with a 1.35m diameter, had the potential to channel 290% more treated water across the river than the two existing 600mm pipelines mounted on the bridge across Sungai Perai in Ampang Jajar.
“The two existing 600mm pipelines spanning Sungai Perai are mounted on the bridge.
“This bridge is built to safely bear the load of regular vehicular traffic and not the additional load of water pipelines.
“The SP-RCP is mounted on its own supporting structure, about 3.31m above the high water level of Sungai Perai,” he said, adding that Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had gone for a site inspection on Saturday.
Pathmanathan said the works were part of a broader plan to upgrade water services for 465,000 consumers connected to the Sungai Dua WTP.
“In 2024, PBAPP invested RM31mil to upgrade the maximum water treatment capacity of the Sungai Dua WTP to 1,342 million litres per day (MLD).
“Now, PBAPP is investing an additional RM25mil into projects to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of supplying water from the Sungai Dua WTP.
“The successful completion of these projects will allow PBAPP to pump more water at higher pressure to 66% of its customers in Penang.
“These projects will also provide a more stable water supply and pressure, as well as facilitate faster water supply recovery from future scheduled and unscheduled water supply interruptions arising from mishaps in Penang,” he said.
Pathmanathan said this would be the only planned water supply interruption by PBAPP in 2025.
Scale of interruption
According to PBAPP, the scale of water supply interruption will vary by location.
A total of 43 areas in northeast district (DTL), two in southwest district (DBD), 54 in north Seberang Perai district (SPU) and 233 in central Seberang Perai district (SPT) will experience water supply interruption for 24 hours.
Water supply for 27 areas in DBD and 221 areas in south Seberang Perai district (SPS) is expected to be restored within 48 hours.
The remaining 16 areas in DBD and 13 areas in SPS will have their water supply restored fully within 60 hours.
The duration of each area’s supply disruption will depend on its distance from the Sungai Dua WTP and its location within the water distribution network.
Areas nearer to the plant will experience fewer days of water cut compared to those living in elevated or remote areas, particularly in SPS and DBD.
Key industrial zones such as Bayan Lepas, Perai, Bukit Minyak, Batu Kawan and Penang International Airport are expected to have their water supply restored between 24 and 28 hours.
PBAPP estimated that 40% (136,683 consumers) will have their supply restored within 24 hours, 88% (300,185 consumers) within 48 hours and all 341,708 consumers within 60 hours.
For more information, see chart above, visit the PBAPP Facebook page or go to www.pba.com.my
Residents in Sri Bayu Apartment, Bayan Lepas, getting supply from a water tanker during a supply cut in January last year. — Filepic
Previous water woes
On Dec 19, 2023, Penang was struck by an unscheduled water supply disruption, affecting about 200,000 consumers due to a burst underwater pipeline measuring 1.35m in diameter at the bottom of Sungai Perai.
The leak sent water gushing on the surface of the river. Divers spent days fixing it.
After three failed attempts to patch the leak until the end
of January last year, it was decided that the pipe could not be repaired.
A new 900mm pipe was constructed along the Ampang Jajar bridge to temporarily divert water across Sungai Perai.
The mishap served as a catalyst for the SP-RCP project.
From Jan 10 to 14 last year, about 590,000 consumers in Penang faced a water disruption due to urgent maintenance at the Sungai Dua WTP involving replacement of two leaking 1,200mm control valves.
The shutdown also facilitated ancillary works at 22 other locations statewide.
